The Reeves family was a musical family. There was always music and singing in their home, consequently, Martha wanted to become a singer.
Reeves first performace was in church singing the hymn, "Jesus met The Woman At The Well". She won a box of chocolate covered cherries.
As a teen she sang with several local girl groups. She was also trained in opera.
She met Motown executive Mickey Stevenson during one of her solo gigs. He invited her to audition for Motown records. Although she went to Motown as a singer, she became their first A&R secretary. She was "The Secretary that could sing her A--off".
When singer Mary Wells missed a recording session, Martha Reeves filled in and was given a recording contract.
Along with the Vandellas, Martha Reeves vibrant lead vocal can be heard on hits like: "Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Jimmy Mack", "Nowhere to Run" and "Dancing In the Street".
Martha Reeves became the first Motown artist to get a release from her contract in 1972. She became a solo artist and recorded tracks for MCA, Arista, Fantasy and later her own label, Itch records. "Power of Love", Wild Night" and Love Blind" are her most popular solo efforts. Her solo album "Martha Reeves", released in 1974 is still a cult favorite among many fans.
Although her solo career failed to take off properly, Martha Reeves manged to remain an important entertainer gaining continous spots on national television and performing in concerts all over the world.
Today she is still performs solo or with a line-up of Vandellas that consists of her Sisters, Lois and Delphine Reeves.
S.T.
Wild Night
Martha Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you comb your hair, grab your coat and hat
And you walk the streets trying to remember, ee-yea
All those wild nights breeze through your mind
1-And every thing looks so complete
When you're walking down on the streets
And the wind, it catches your feet
Sets you flying, crying
Ooh ooh-ooh wee, wild night, is calling
Ooh ooh-ooh wee, wild night, is calling
All the girls walk by, dressed up for each other
And the boys, do the boogie-woogie
On the corner of the stree-ee-eet
And the people passing by, just stare with wild wonder, yea
And inside the juke box roars just like thunder
(repeat 1)
Wi-i-i-ild night, is calling
The wi-i-ild night a-is calling
C'mon out and dance, c'mon out and dance
C'mon out and make romance, c'mon out and dance
C'mon out and dance, c'mon out and make romance
Ooh ooh-ooh we the wild night, is calling
The lyrics of "Wild Night" by Martha Reeves portray the nostalgic feelings of a man who is on a night out reminiscing about past wild nights. As he stands before his mirror brushing his shoes and combing his hair, he grabs his coat and hat to hit the streets, trying to remember all the crazy and fun nights he has had. The singer gets lost in his thoughts as he takes a walk down the streets, and as he catches the wind, he feels lifted and starts crying. The song emphasizes the feeling of freedom and wildness that can be found in the nightlife. The girls are all dressed up, and the boys are dancing the boogie-woogie on the corner of the street, and the people passing by stare in wonder. The music played inside the jukebox adds to the vibrancy of the night.
The lyrics of "Wild Night" contain a sense of nostalgia, with the singer trying to relive the wildness of his youth. Martha Reeves' powerful vocals highlight the excitement and enthusiasm of the night. It's a song about living in the moment, enjoying life to the fullest, and letting loose.
Line by Line Meaning
As you brush your shoes, you stand before your mirror
As you prepare to go out for the night, you take a moment to admire yourself and make sure that you look presentable.
And you comb your hair, grab your coat and hat
You make sure that every hair is in place, and you put on your coat and hat, ready to face what the night has in store for you.
And you walk the streets trying to remember, ee-yea
All those wild nights breeze through your mind
As you stroll through the city, flashes of past wild nights come to you and make you feel excited and alive.
And every thing looks so complete
When you're walking down on the streets
And the wind, it catches your feet
Sets you flying, crying
As you walk, you feel like everything is in its right place. The wind gusts and lifts you up, and you feel energized and thrilled by the world around you.
All the girls walk by, dressed up for each other
And the boys, do the boogie-woogie
On the corner of the stree-ee-eet
And the people passing by, just stare with wild wonder, yea
And inside the juke box roars just like thunder
As you wander the city, you take in the sights and sounds of everyone around you. The girls are dressed up and looking fantastic, and the boys are dancing on the street corner. Passersby gape in amazement, and the jukebox blares out a wild, vibrant rhythm.
Wi-i-i-ild night, is calling
The wi-i-ild night a-is calling
C'mon out and dance, c'mon out and dance
C'mon out and make romance, c'mon out and dance
C'mon out and dance, c'mon out and make romance
Ooh ooh-ooh we the wild night, is calling
The night is calling out to you, full of untold possibilities and excitement. You're invited to come out and dance, make connections, and live your life to the fullest.
Writer(s): van Morrison
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.